Black carbon and other light-absorbing impurities in Arctic snow, and their effect on surface alb

第6回極域科学シンポジウム分野横断セッション：[IA] 急変する北極気候システム及びその全球的な影響の総合的解明―GRENE北極気候変動研究事業研究成果報告2015―11月19日（木）　国立極地研究所 2階 大会議

Sources of light-absorbing aerosol in arctic snow and their seasonal variation

Two data sets consisting of measurements of light absorbing aerosols (LAA) in arctic snow together with suites of other corresponding chemical constituents are presented; the first from Siberia, Greenland and near the North Pole obtained in 2008, and the second from the Canadian arctic obtained in 2009. A preliminary differentiation of the LAA into black carbon (BC) and non-BC LAA is done. Source attribution of the light absorbing aerosols was done using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. Four sources were found for each data set (crop and grass burning, boreal biomass burning, pollution and marine). For both data sets, the crops and grass biomass burning was the main source of both LAA species, suggesting the non-BC LAA was brown carbon. Depth profiles at most of the sites allowed assessment of the seasonal variation in the source strengths. The biomass burning sources dominated in the spring but pollution played a more significant (though rarely dominant) role in the fall, winter and, for Greenland, summer. The PMF analysis is consistent with trajectory analysis and satellite fire maps

Functional interaction between Epstein-Barr virus replication protein Zta and host DNA damage response protein 53BP1

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV; human herpesvirus 4) poses major clinical problems worldwide. Following primary infection, EBV enters a form of long-lived latency in B lymphocytes, expressing few viral genes, and it persists for the lifetime of the host with sporadic bursts of viral replication. The switch between latency and replication is governed by the action of a multifunctional viral protein Zta (also called BZLF1, ZEBRA, and Z). Using a global proteomic approach, we identified a host DNA damage repair protein that specifically interacts with Zta: 53BP1. 53BP1 is intimately connected with the ATM signal transduction pathway, which is activated during EBV replication. The interaction of 53BP1 with Zta requires the C-terminal ends of both proteins. A series of Zta mutants that show a wild-type ability to perform basic functions of Zta, such as dimer formation, interaction with DNA, and the transactivation of viral genes, were shown to have lost the ability to induce the viral lytic cycle. Each of these mutants also is compromised in the C-terminal region for interaction with 53BP1. In addition, the knockdown of 53BP1 expression reduced viral replication, suggesting that the association between Zta and 53BP1 is involved in the viral replication cycle

A Land Use Plan for Brightmoor

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110972/1/landuseBrightmooropt2008.pd

A Feasibility Study on Possible Uses for a Common Area Greenbelt in a Southern California Neighborhood

Common greenbelt areas within residential neighborhoods are capable of existing as multi-function zones. ‘The Village’ in Southern Orange County, California, envisions its greenbelts as benefiting the homeowners, both in cost and esthetics, all beneficial insect and plant species, and the surrounding micro-climate. Research was conducted on three different systems, aimed at improving the areas of ‘The Village’ both economically and environmentally; the areas of focus were vineyard installation, fire resistant landscaping, and low impact development installations. The process began with evaluating the sites physical and judicial restraints. Soils tests, topography calculations, climate records, and preexisting species identifications were conducted; documents regarding water rights, installation restrictions, site history, and zone regulations were also collected. Interviews were conducted with all relatable parties, including local fire authority, board members from the Homeowners Association, vineyard lesser and lessee, and LID specialists. All potential benefits and drawbacks of each installation were compared and contrasted between the three areas of focus, on levels ranging from maintenance costs to long run ecological factors. This research will be used in moving forward to improvements within the greenbelt areas of ‘The Village,’ and can be further applied to similar residential development areas in future projects

Master of Science

thesisThis work examines in detail the lifecycles of the convection on 20, 23, and 24 May 2011 during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) field experiment in Oklahoma. Furthermore, specific attention is given to the environmental mechanisms that affect the propagation, maintenance, strength, and morphology of organized convection for the duration of the three cases. This study was conducted using the MC3E field campaign observational database, with particular emphasis on ground and airborne radar, radiosonde, and Oklahoma Mesonet data. This work was motivated by the goals of the MC3E field campaign, including improved understanding of convective evolution, organized convection, microphysics, ultimately leading to improvement of parameterization of convection and mesoscale processes in weather and climate models, and improvement of retrievals of precipitation by remote sensing. The three cases examined exhibited leading line/trailing stratiform mesoscale convective system, supercell, and back-building convective structures, each with a complex evolution. From the data analyzed for these cases, we suggest that given certain initial conditions, the vertical wind shear profile is the dominant factor in the determination of storm morphology. If the source of the buoyant updraft is renewed throughout a system's lifetime, then a convective system's propagation and longevity is tied strongly to the strength of the cold pool produced by convective downdrafts, and formation of new convection along the boundaries of the pool

The Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Intercomparison Project (ACCMIP): Overview and description of models, simulations and climate diagnostics

The Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Intercomparison Project (ACCMIP) consists of a series of time slice experiments targeting the long-term changes in atmospheric composition between 1850 and 2100, with the goal of documenting composition changes and the associated radiative forcing. In this overview paper, we introduce the ACCMIP activity, the various simulations performed (with a requested set of 14) and the associated model output. The 16 ACCMIP models have a wide range of horizontal and vertical resolutions, vertical extent, chemistry schemes and interaction with radiation and clouds. While anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions were specified for all time slices in the ACCMIP protocol, it is found that the natural emissions are responsible for a significant range across models, mostly in the case of ozone precursors. The analysis of selected present-day climate diagnostics (precipitation, temperature, specific humidity and zonal wind) reveals biases consistent with state-of-the-art climate models. The model-to-model comparison of changes in temperature, specific humidity and zonal wind between 1850 and 2000 and between 2000 and 2100 indicates mostly consistent results. However, models that are clear outliers are different enough from the other models to significantly affect their simulation of atmospheric chemistry

A T Cell-inducing influenza vaccine for the elderly: safety and immunogenicity of MVA-NP+M1 in adults aged over 50 years

Current influenza vaccines have reduced immunogenicity and are of uncertain efficacy in older adults. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of MVA-NP+M1, a viral-vectored influenza vaccine designed to boost memory T cell responses, in a group of older adults.Thirty volunteers (aged 50-85) received a single intramuscular injection of MVA-NP+M1 at a dose of 1·5×10(8) plaque forming units (pfu). Safety and immunogenicity were assessed over a period of one year. The frequency of T cells specific for nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein 1 (M1) was determined by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) ELISpot, and their phenotypic and functional properties were characterized by polychromatic flow cytometry. In a subset of M1-specific CD8(+) T cells, T cell receptor (TCR) gene expression was evaluated using an unbiased molecular approach.Vaccination with MVA-NP+M1 was well tolerated. ELISpot responses were boosted significantly above baseline following vaccination. Increases were detected in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets. Clonality studies indicated that MVA-NP+M1 expanded pre-existing memory CD8(+) T cells, which displayed a predominant CD27(+)CD45RO(+)CD57(-)CCR7(-) phenotype both before and after vaccination.MVA-NP+M1 is safe and immunogenic in older adults. Unlike seasonal influenza vaccination, the immune responses generated by MVA-NP+M1 are similar between younger and older individuals. A T cell-inducing vaccine such as MVA-NP+M1 may therefore provide a way to circumvent the immunosenescence that impairs routine influenza vaccination.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00942071

Changes in Cortical Composition during Gyrification in the Developing Brain

Background and Hypothesis: Abnormal brain folding has been implicated in neurodivergent conditions such as schizophrenia and autism, yet the mechanical and biological processes responsible for this process are not well understood. One current hypothesis is that cortex growth outpaces growth of the underlying white matter to drive mechanical buckling. However, mechanical stresses, such as those resulting from buckling, can also influence cellular behavior. In this study, we hypothesized that mechanical stresses from cortical folding influence processes of biological growth within the cortex, such as dendrite arborization within the neuropil and neuronal differentiation. Methods: To quantify change in cell body size and neuropil over the period of cortical folding, sections of the developing ferret brain (postnatal days 20, 26, 32, and 38) were stained with FluoroNissl dye, imaged with confocal microscopy, and analyzed using Fiji software. Change in percent neuropil, cell area, cell density, and overall length were quantified at upper, middle, and lower thirds of the cortex to assess the influence of bending stresses within gyri and sulci during development. Results: Preliminary analysis revealed a substantial increase in neuropil over time in the upper layers of the cortex. However, gyral regions expected to experience mechanical tension and increased expansion did not exhibit the hypothesized differences in neuropil or cell size. Though there was an overall increase in neuropil volume fraction and cell body size over time, throughout all layers of the cortex, these factors only accounted for roughly 2/3 of the physical growth quantified throughout these cortical layers. Potential Impact: Findings indicate that neuropil and cell body expansion are insufficient to fully explain the growth observed during cortical folding. These results highlight a potential role for alternative cellular processes, such as the migration of other cell types into the cortex, to induce cortical growth and folding in gyrencephalic species